Whaler's Hat

Item number Nb11.336 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Conical hat (no liner) with knob at crown; wrapped twine cedar warp over grass horizontal weft. Purple-black dyed cedar decoration with three rows of checkerboard at bottom (rows 3-5). On main brim of hat are two horizontal bands with a whaler, holding a harpoon, standing in a canoe with a whale to the right. Above each canoe is a line with three diagonal spurs along top of line and at widest point of knob are three checkerboard rows. Twining varies in element size with wider elements in four rows around centre, at brim, below meander and on knob. Inside is cedar slat head band with evenly spaced, wide, vertical grass supports worked into the basketry at top of band and ending in two rows of twine at bottom.

History Of Use

Whaling hats were worn only by chiefs and have considerable antiquity on the west coast. A whaling hat dating to 2,500 years ago was found at Ozette, in Makah territory. Whaling scenes on this type of hat may also have considerable time depth since they were noted by Cook's expedition in the 18th century.